World Environment Day: Green Economy - Does it include you?

World Environment Day is celebrated on 5th June every year. It is run by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). WED is going to celebrate its 40^th year since 1972.  The first World Environment Day was on 1973. It is somewhat similar to Earth Day.

Our planet gives us our food, clothes, fuel, medicines and much, much more. Series of global summits and promises alone can’t make any difference to the situation unless they are complemented by local actions. Let us take the opportunity to do something for our environment, reflect on our responsibilities towards the future generations and redouble our efforts to preserve our planet.

Some Green Ideas:

·         Switch off the lights when not needed, use CFLs

·         Take public transportations to work

·         Pledge to become paperless at work, use more of e-mail

·         Avoid use of plastic bags, switch to cloth bags

·         Reducing energy consumption in house and contribute to reduction of Green House Gases (GHG)

·         Cutting down on transportation and thereby contribute to ambient air quantity

·         Buying environmental friendly home and personal care products to promote livelihoods

·         Cutting down on water use and waste to home

·         Stop use of polythene carry bags and non-bio-degradable materials

·         Supporting the organizations that work to preserve natural resources

·         Encouraging residents, business and institutions to contribute in building a sustainable society

·         Reducing the amount of pollution and waste that we generate

The Theme of World Environment Day 2012 is Green Economy Does it include you? A Green Economy is described as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. We can think of a green economy as an economic environment that achieves low carbon emissions, resource efficiency and at the same time is socially inclusive.  

Saint Kabir : One of the Greatest Saint-Poet of India

Saint Kabir is considered to be one of the greatest poets as well as mystics ever born in India. He believed that human beings are equal and being one with God is the ultimate aim of every individual. His love and devotion to the Supreme One clearly reflects in his poetry. The Holy Guru Granth Saheb contains over 500 verses by the great Saint, Kabir. The verses or dohas of Guru Kabir are still read by people with awe and administration.

Saint Kabir was born in 1300 AD. It is said that he was found floating on a lotus leaf in a tank in Benaras by Muslim weaver. The weaver took the vulnerable child under his care and following the traditional manner, gave him the name of Kabir, meaning the great one. Even at young age, Kabir displayed enormous spiritual talent

Kabir always wanted to become a disciple of Ramanand. However since he was Muslim, it was next to impossible for him to get initiation from a Hindu. So he took recourse to a trick. Ramanand daily went to the bathing ghat for his pre-dawn ritual ablutions. Kabir lay on the steps of the ghat in such a way that Ramanand stepped on him. Shocked at this incident, he chanted “Rama, Rama”. Kabir said that he has received teachings from him, in the form of the words “Rama, Rama”, he was Ramanand disciple. Impressed with the intelligence of Kabir, Ramanand took him as his disciple. After some time, by his Guru’s grace, Kabir was able to have the divine darshan of Sri Rama. This divine experience inspired him to write poetic verses. One of his most famous poetic verses is:

Guru Govind dono khade kisko lago pay

Balihari Guru apne, jine Govind diyo batay

The hallmark of Kabir’s work consists of his two line couplets, known as the Kabir ke Dohe. The dohas reflect the deep philosophical thinking of saint Kabir.Saint Kabir always advocated the Impersonal Aspect Of God (Nirguna) and therefore, was against idol worship. As per his view, all human beings are equal and the societal caste system that is so widely prevalent in our country is fallacious. He said that the true Guru is the one who can be attained through direct experience. The common ways of realizing God, like chanting, austerities, etc., are worthless. Through his poetry and thoughtful words of wisdom, Kabir talked about piety, generosity, humility and tolerance. His poems appealed not only to Hindus, but also appealed to devotees of all religions seeking a path to a God. Many Brahmins of Kashi objected to Kabir’s teachings because he was raised a Muslim, and many Sufi mystics opposed Kabir because he associated with Hindus Sadhus. Despite this, countless Hindus and Muslims alike found immense inspiration from Kabir’s insightful poems. Even today, we sing some of Kabir’s Bhajans in BAPS Mandirsworldwide.
A Portrait of Saint Kabir is made by me..

Saint Kabir : One of the Greatest Saint-Poet of India

Kevin Pietersen : A Modern Batsman bid adieu to International Limited Overs Cricket

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen, on 31 May 2012, retired from all forms of international limited overs cricket. But he would still available for Tests. His decision of retirement comes just four months ahead of the world T20 in Sri Lanka where England is the defending Champions. He is 32 years old and thought that it was the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players came through to gain experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015. The terms of England Players’ central contract state that any cricketer making unavailable for either of the one-day formats automatically rules himself out of consideration for both formats of the game – ODI & T20.

The 31-year old Pietersen has played 127 ODIs and 36 international T20s for England, making his international debut in 2004 against Zimbabwe in Harare. Pietersen has scored 4,184 runs at the average of 41.84 in one-day internationals and averages 37.93 in international T20 cricket. The flamboyant batsman, who discussed his position with the ECB during the Test against West Indies at Lord’s, has a contract till September 2012. That contract will be downgraded to reflect the fact that he will only be selected Test cricket from now.

Pietersen was born in 27 June 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province. He is a South African born English Cricketer. Pietersen is married to Liberty X singer Jessica Taylor on December 29, 2007 at St Andrew's Church in Castle Combe. He was captain of the England Tests and ODIs from August 04, 2008 to January 07, 2009. Pietersen became the fastest batsman to reach both 1,000 and 2,000 runs in One Day International cricket and the quickest in terms of time to 5,000 Test runs. He has the highest average of any England player to have played more than 20 innings of one-day cricket. He has the second-highest run total from his first 25 Tests, behind only the Australian Donald Bradman and was the fastest player, in terms of days, to reach 4,000 Test runs. He became only the third English batsman to top the ICC One Day International rankings. In July 2008, after a century against South Africa, The Times called him "The most complete batsman in cricket". In 2012, The Guardian called him "England's greatest modern batsman"

A Portrait of Pietersen is made by me...

Kevin Pietersen - The English Wall